How reducing tremor affects stigma in people with essential tremor
Official title: ET Stigma Response to Tremor Suppression With Focused Ultrasound Thalamotomy
Run by University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center · NCT07430761 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study will see if lowering hand tremor with focused ultrasound thalamotomy reduces stigma-related distress and social problems in adults with essential tremor.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 220 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Dallas, Texas) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | January 1, 2025 |
| Main results expected | May 30, 2027 |
| Study ends | August 30, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | February 24, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07430761 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults diagnosed with essential tremor by a movement disorder neurologist who are scheduled for HIFU thalamotomy for functionally significant tremor and can give informed consent.
✕Probably not a fit
People who do not undergo tremor-reducing thalamotomy, whose tremor does not improve after the procedure, or whose social concerns are unrelated to tremor visibility may not experience benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is a before-and-after observational study of adults with essential tremor who undergo stereotactic thalamotomy using high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) targeted by tractography. Participants complete three short questionnaires measuring stigma distress, stigma-related dysfunction, and tremor-related disability shortly before the procedure and again 11–18 months later. Changes in stigma scores will be compared with improvements in objective tremor severity and functional status to look for correlations. The questionnaires are brief (about 5 minutes total) and the study does not change clinical care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, reducing tremor could lessen stigma-related distress and social dysfunction and thereby improve quality of life for people with essential tremor.
How similar studies have gone: Focused ultrasound thalamotomy has been shown to reduce tremor and improve function, but few prior studies have directly measured changes in stigma, so this question is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * People with ET as diagnosed by a movement disorder neurologist * Tremor of sufficient severity and impact on quality of life so as to justify a lesional brain procedure * Competent to consent to undergoing high intensity focused ultrasound thalamotomy targeted by 4-tract tractography * Provide verbal informed consent to this study of ET stigma Exclusion Criteria: * Patient declines to participate in this observational study
Where it's running
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University of Texas Soouthwestern Medical Center
Dallas, Texas, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Padraig E O'Suilleabhain, MD — University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Padraig E O'Suilleabhain, MD
- Email: padraig.osuilleabhain@utsouthwestern.edu
- Phone: 2146482943
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.